Influence of glycosaminoglycans isolated from the rat liver with various stages of carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis upon collagen fibrillogenesis in vitro

The influence of glycosaminoglycans [GAG] on collagen fibrillogenesis in vitro was investigated. GAG and collagen were isolated from the liver of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride at various time intervals [3-16 weeks]. It was found that GAG obtained from the fibrotic liver accelerated collagen fibril formation. This effect was more evident in a solution of type I collagen than type III collagen. Studies on the liver samples showed that collagen was relatively slowly liberated in a solution of acid from the fibrotic liver as compared to normal tissue. The observed phenomena were related to the stage of fibrosis, i.e., to the duration of carbon tetrachloride treatment. Therefore, a role for GAG alteration in the development of hepatic fibrosis is suggested

Binding of naproxen to serum proteins in patients with liver cirrhosis and healthy individuals

A three-fold decrease of the in vitro ability of serum proteins to bind naproxen was shown in patients with cirrhosis of the liver compared to healthy individuals. This decrease was caused by quantitative changes in serum proteins in the sera of patients with liver damage. Lower doses of naproxen are therefore suggested in the treatment of patients with liver dysfunction

Hepatoprotective activity of silymarin in rats treated with high doses of acetylsalicylic acid or naproxen

Rats were treated with acetylsalicylic acid [150 rng/kg b.w.per os daily] or naproxen [125 mg/kg b.w. per os daily] for six weeks. Half of the rats received silymarin [17.5 mg/kg b.w. per os daily] in the last three weeks of the experiment. It was found that administration of acetyl salicylic acid led to signs of hepatic damage [an increase in serum bilirubin level, alanine aminotransferase and Alpha glutarnyl transpeptidase activity] while the concomitant administration of silymarin diminished the extent of the hepatic damage. Naproxen was shown to be less toxic than acetylsalicylic acid, and its toxicity was also reduced by silymarin. The obtained results suggest that silymarin be administered to patients undergoing long-term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in order to prevent hepatic damage, but further studies are needed to elaborate on the clinical aspects of silymarin treatment in those patients

Primary biliary cirrhosis in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis, a case report

A 63-year-old woman suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis for about 20 years disclosed symptoms of liver disease within the last three years. Diagnosis of biliary cirrhosis was established on the basis of clinical picture, pathological examination of the hepatic tissue sample, immunological tests, and x-ray studies. Association of systemic sclerosis with primary biliary cirrhosis is briefly reviewed